Rules

Teams
1. The 2Fly4Hope Challenge will field up to twenty-four teams, made up of two amateur fly anglers, aged 14 and older.

Equipment
1. Contestants will furnish their own fly fishing equipment.
2. The type of rod and fly reel is the choice of the individual contestant.
3. The use of fly floatant, lead weight, leaders or other accessories will be at the discretion of the contestant. Only floating lines are permitted.
4. No real or artificial fish attractants, such as scents, are allowed.

Event Flies
1. Only two flies of any conventional pattern (dry, wet, nymph, streamer, etc.) will be allowed per contestant through the duration of the Two Fly event. A total of four flies will be allowed per team. If a contestant loses both flies during the event or the fly angler is finished for the day unless the other team member donates a fly. The same is true for a team that loses all four flies.
2. One of the flies that each contestant chooses must incorporate in some capacity the color pink.
3. Flies must be tied on a single barbless hook, or on a hook with the barb pushed down.
4. Traditional strike indicators are allowed.

Fishing Procedure:
1. Federal and state rules and regulations governing the waters to be fished will be strictly observed. All anglers must have a current Virginia State fishing license (www.dgif.state.va.us )
2. The river will be divided into twelve fishable beats.
3. All teams will fish at least two, two-hour increments, unless they lose all of their allowed flies. Teams will be assigned a fishing beat for the morning fishing session and during the lunch break will be assigned a new fishing beat for the afternoon fishing session.
4. Both team members can fish at any one time but teams are strongly encouraged to consider only allowing one team member to fish, depending on the size of the fishing beat.
5. Each fishable beat will be assigned a Stream Monitor who will confirm and validate each caught trout on a scoring sheet. Stream Monitors will also assist teams on an as needed basis.
6. All trout species will be counted in the scoring. No “Fall” fish will be counted except as a penalty (see penalty section). For a trout to be counted as “caught,” the Stream Monitor needs to see the trout being landed and released with as little impact to the fish as possible.
7. Each contestant may have only three caught trout measured by the Stream Monitor during their AM and PM fishing sessions for the longest fish prize.
8. Fishing hours on the Rose River will be from 9:30am until 3:00pm.
9. If a contestant’s fly becomes caught in brush or in a snag, it may be recovered and reattached to the leader. The contestant may continue fishing in the event. The contestant may be disqualified by the Stream Monitor for any unsafe practice used to retrieve a fly.
10. Daily scoring ends for the contestant when his/her two flies become irretrievably lost. The contestant whose fishing has ended may continue to support their team member through advice and other encouragement.

Scoring
1. To be counted in the score, the release of a caught trout must be witnessed by the Stream Monitor. Each of these trout will have a value of two points.
2. Each contestant will be allowed to select three (3) trout to measure during the day. All trout not selected for measurement will be released immediately, preferably without removing them from the water.
3. Measurement of trout shall be done by the Stream Monitor while the trout is in the water whenever possible. The Stream Monitor should measure the trout with a Fishscale on a rod or net handle, a ruler, a measuring trough or like device. Any trout which measures ½” or greater is rounded to the next full inch by the scoring committee. For example, a measurement of 21 ½” equals 22” for scoring purposes. The guide should measure and record the exact fractional inch and allow the scoring committee to tabulate the final value. Fish are measured from the top of the nose to the tip of the relaxed tail. The tail is not to be pinched.
4. 10 points will be awarded to an angler that keeps both of his/her two allotted flies.

Penalties
1. A penalty will be assessed for any fish killed or ruled by the Stream Monitor to be unable to survive. Each of these fish will be measured and the scored value of four (4) points will be subtracted from the angler’s score.
2. Any “Fall” Fish caught (river chubs, suckers, etc.) will be assessed a $1.00 penalty. The total of this penalty will be assessed at the end of the fishing day and will be donated to Casting for Recovery as a contribution from that angler.
3. Any contestant that hooks his/her teammate or a competing team member will be assessed a $10.00 penalty. The total of this penalty will be assessed at the end of the fishing day and donated to Casting for Recovery as a contribution from that angler.
4. Any contestant that foul hooks a trout (on a location other than the trout’s mouth) by snagging or other hook set will be assessed a $5.00 penalty. The total of this penalty will be assessed at the end of the fishing day and donated to Casting for Recovery as a contribution from that angler.
5. The Stream Monitor is responsible for monitoring Teams for any Rules Violation or unsportsmanlike conduct and will notify the Rules Committee of any such occurrence. The Committee will rule on the violation within one hour after receiving it. Penalties will vary with the violation, from sanctions, to nullifying daily scores, to disqualification from the event. Violations will be considered only from the Stream Monitor who is responsible for the particular fishing beat where the rules violation or behavior was observed.

These rules are subject to change and modification as directed by the Two Fly For Hope Committee.